Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) is a national association founded in 1909 and dedicated to reducing the loss of life and property from fire, and to advancing the science and technology of Fire and Emergency Services in Canada.

The membership of CAFC includes some 1,000 Fire Chiefs and other fire officers. It represents the three major types of Fire Departments in Canada: full-time departments, volunteer departments and composite departments. Composite departments include both full-time and volunteer personnel. Volunteer and composite departments constitute the overwhelming majority of Fire Departments in Canada.

The membership of the Association is located in municipalities throughout all ten provinces and all three territories. The national Board of Directors is comprised of Fire Chiefs from every province and territory.

According to the 2001 Census, there were 19.6 million people residing in the 25 largest census metropolitan areas across Canada. All but one of these areas is represented in the CAFC membership. Therefore, CAFC members are emergency first responders for 99.3 per cent of Canadians residing in the 25 largest census metropolitan areas. The complete policy of the CAFC in relation to CBRN equipment and training can be found at: http://www.cafc.ca/government/policy_e.php

The CAFC has participated in this project as a step toward increasing the ability of Canadian emergency responders and the communities they serve to respond to CBRNE terrorist events.